Price wise it’s on the money for the kit on it. It’s a US made carbon frame with full carbon rear end, reinforced carbon in key damageable areas and carbon armor polymer shield. Also there is no weight limit and a lifetime warranty. The DT Swiss wheels ain’t cheap nor is XX.

I feel it’s not fair to compare it with a lesser specced Commencal with a far eastern produced frame without a lifetime warranty and features of this model. The XXX-Lite parts are as good as anything on the market and well worth thier cost and if you want the best you need to pay for it! Also worth bearing in mind how damaged the Commencal brand is in the UK and they need to be great value to try and get some sales as their technology isn’t cutting edge, the brand image has been ruined by huge disocunting and frame failures.

Trek have done so much work they’ve even massively improved the damping on Fox’s already superb FIT damped forks and it really is noticeable!

Of course Trek as a company have a product policy that leads to £6k bikes but it’s not so much a case of trying to build the most expensive bike possible but rather buidl the best possible and then charging what it costs.

Spending the weekend with the guys from Trek and talking about the products over dinner and beers with the actual engineers and designers really reinforces how much they care about their customers, their riding and every little fine detail. The amount of development work they do is unreal, I mean wind tunnel testing downhill bikes!

I’m afraid these arguments seem very weak and the same could be applied to Brain shocks used on Specialiized bikes for years and thats not proven to be a problem.

Eh? I just asked if you *could* use a ‘normal’ shock on it, I’m not arguing for changing it.

Why I would want to doesn’t come into it. I’m guessing from the bizarrely defensive answers that the answer is no.

Finishing kit includes Easton Haven bars and stem. Oh, and the price for this carbon badboy? £3299.99.”

Nice. How do they do it so ‘cheap’?

I’m afraid these arguments seem very weak and the same could be applied to Brain shocks used on Specialiized bikes for years and thats not proven to be a problem.

If it’s a case of being tight and wanting to replace it with a cheaper 2nd hand unit if it dies then that may be harder but i struggle to sympathise. With these attitudes there would never be any innovation and progress.

And how long are Fox going to keep making spares for it after Trek gets bored of this design? Are you going to be able to get hold of a rebuild kit from your LBS when it goes wrong a day before you’re due to take it on holiday?

But anyway, I was only wondering. A reasonable question I thought!

Sorry I don’t buy it (quite literally). But like I said “fair enough to Trek if they can sell it…”